tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43176231627488284602015-09-16T18:23:07.264-04:00Charlotte Mason In AmericaMy thoughts and observations in trying to provide my children with a Charlotte Mason Education in 21st Century America.Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-4484605617516179982014-01-07T09:06:00.000-05:002014-01-07T09:06:51.281-05:00It's been a while...The last I posted on this blog was about a year and a half&nbsp;ago. &nbsp;So much has happened in that time&nbsp;that I hardly know where to begin. &nbsp;Despite it all, homeschooling happened and continues to happen. <br /><br />The biggest change is that our family has moved 750 miles to Tennessee.&nbsp; The homeschooling laws are different in Tennessee than in Pennsylvania and I sometimes struggle with it.&nbsp; Maybe because I was so familiar with the law in Pa and some of the Tn laws don't make sense.&nbsp; I'm learning and working my way through it all.<br /><br />I'm hoping to post more in the next few days.<br /><div>&nbsp;</div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-70176939049188781462012-08-11T23:00:00.000-04:002012-08-12T08:53:39.293-04:00Experimenting with TeaOur relaxed summer schedule is so awesome.<br /><br />DD13 decided to see what our different teas tasted like over ice.&nbsp; She brewed several glasses of tea and we were able to come in and sample each one.&nbsp; Pomegranate Pizzazz was a favorite.&nbsp; I liked the Earl Grey.&nbsp; Acai Berry was popular as well.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hIu6jdNw_0o/UCelPMKdohI/AAAAAAAABXM/KpHS-S6EqYA/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hIu6jdNw_0o/UCelPMKdohI/AAAAAAAABXM/KpHS-S6EqYA/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H3JUru91Ouo/UCelasA4eBI/AAAAAAAABXc/2bYiFNLASvE/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H3JUru91Ouo/UCelasA4eBI/AAAAAAAABXc/2bYiFNLASvE/s320/010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2QeRqmqZVA/UCeliSeuf7I/AAAAAAAABXw/8RMAwV-cRys/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2QeRqmqZVA/UCeliSeuf7I/AAAAAAAABXw/8RMAwV-cRys/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think the Vanilla Caramel Truffle would have been good as a latte.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4K16-aH5Mk/UCelXYnOmXI/AAAAAAAABXU/Ro_UmliK2sE/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4K16-aH5Mk/UCelXYnOmXI/AAAAAAAABXU/Ro_UmliK2sE/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who can drink tea without cookies?&nbsp; Chocolate &amp; White Vanilla Chip cookies that I made yesterday are on the counter.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp; </div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-62690228959468818502012-06-24T16:36:00.000-04:002012-06-24T16:36:28.340-04:00When Screens are Shut OffI often ponder the technology in our house [which consists of&nbsp;one - yes, one - TV, computers (3 of those)&nbsp; and a Wii console.]&nbsp; When I ponder these things, I wonder how much do we really need them.&nbsp; A few years back, I put a block on the Disney Channel because I did not want my kids to start talking to me the way Hannah Montanna talked to her dad.&nbsp; Many people laughed when they heard this, but we held tight to the ban on Disney.&nbsp; <br />Recently, I started reading a book by Jen Hatmaker called "7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess".&nbsp; Wonderful, thought-provoking book.&nbsp; We have so much in this country that we take for granted.&nbsp; I daresay, we have too much.&nbsp; Much of what we have distracts us from the important stuff.&nbsp; <br />Although I limit "Screens" at our house, I have taken a stronger approach since the weather warmed up.&nbsp; It's fun to see what the kids will get into when they are not allowed to veg out in front of a screen.<br /><br />Big sister cutting little brother's hair.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DA6jcAcERn4/T-d4xRIsgzI/AAAAAAAABWQ/0wYXeffItXc/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DA6jcAcERn4/T-d4xRIsgzI/AAAAAAAABWQ/0wYXeffItXc/s320/004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgqF9BuJLIg/T-d40mOoRwI/AAAAAAAABWY/CPoXSB3Qsrc/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgqF9BuJLIg/T-d40mOoRwI/AAAAAAAABWY/CPoXSB3Qsrc/s320/007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cooling off with the garden hose.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojath72-4mg/T-d46O0c0TI/AAAAAAAABWg/UMM5HmfqG_k/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojath72-4mg/T-d46O0c0TI/AAAAAAAABWg/UMM5HmfqG_k/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ul4E4LjZBc/T-d4-75_ilI/AAAAAAAABWo/rHS-7Gg-RS0/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ul4E4LjZBc/T-d4-75_ilI/AAAAAAAABWo/rHS-7Gg-RS0/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, DS8 prepared a stir fry for me.&nbsp; Can you guess the ingredients?&nbsp; Let me help....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cucumber, celery, and&nbsp;romaine lettuce</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TiLjQfZjM_o/T-d5Byi1YZI/AAAAAAAABWw/G_BGIAKbHys/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TiLjQfZjM_o/T-d5Byi1YZI/AAAAAAAABWw/G_BGIAKbHys/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rnM84NMCJy4/T-d5EwEEbmI/AAAAAAAABW4/iwfk1nnW_yc/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rnM84NMCJy4/T-d5EwEEbmI/AAAAAAAABW4/iwfk1nnW_yc/s320/017.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He also added some spices to it.&nbsp; (We wouldn't want a bland stir fry, would we?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He said he chose spices that looked like they went on steak.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Red pepper, pepper, parsley flakes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ate the whole thing with an appreciation that only a mother can have and gave some constructive criticism by letting him know that the next time he didn't have to use so much red pepper.&nbsp; It's an hour later and my mouth is still on fire!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LfTuibdBNh8/T-d5I4--DoI/AAAAAAAABXA/qgJUDrefBIc/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LfTuibdBNh8/T-d5I4--DoI/AAAAAAAABXA/qgJUDrefBIc/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-66152846888315436152012-06-20T22:38:00.000-04:002012-06-20T22:38:06.445-04:00Finding Time<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4DQHho7i7w/T-KHHCrSUkI/AAAAAAAABVk/tJ4ygKZL-u8/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4DQHho7i7w/T-KHHCrSUkI/AAAAAAAABVk/tJ4ygKZL-u8/s200/004.JPG" width="200" /></a>There is a delicate balance between activity and busy-ness. &nbsp;As things are clearing from my calendar, I am slowly finding the time to do the things I love to do. &nbsp;I love to be with my kids and experience them. &nbsp;The time they are in my life is so temporary. &nbsp;I love to take walks, read, quilt, browse blogs and Pinterest, and cook. &nbsp;It's amazing that I am finding the time to do those things again. &nbsp;I started on a quilt that was to be given to my daughter for Christmas 2010 and finally finished it last week. &nbsp;That should not be. &nbsp;She should be the priority and that quilt should have been done long before this. &nbsp;I'm beginning a new quilt for my second daughter. &nbsp;I am planning to make it a priority and get it done before her birthday in October. &nbsp;I have another quilt project that I have been working on for years. &nbsp;That is for my bed and can wait.<br />The beautiful part is that DD13 loves to sit with me while I am engaging in handicrafts. &nbsp;She will often help or come along beside me with her own project. &nbsp;I love that time I get with her.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awh29PN7wvw/T-KHPxZ6YlI/AAAAAAAABV0/mDC9raWmXB8/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awh29PN7wvw/T-KHPxZ6YlI/AAAAAAAABV0/mDC9raWmXB8/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">This is the quilt I finished last week. &nbsp;Even though it has a Christmas theme to it, DD14 says she loves it.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LYtNbDHdhFo/T-KHUs1E16I/AAAAAAAABV8/xJme6DBFBeU/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LYtNbDHdhFo/T-KHUs1E16I/AAAAAAAABV8/xJme6DBFBeU/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Do7OxsCvxhU/T-KHZwKmjRI/AAAAAAAABWE/0T_RxA66ysE/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Do7OxsCvxhU/T-KHZwKmjRI/AAAAAAAABWE/0T_RxA66ysE/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Below are fabrics I have chosen for my next project. &nbsp;It will be a rainbow quilt and I'm hoping to find yellow brick road fabric to use for the trim.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BoM0lGjolVs/T-KHDrt2x9I/AAAAAAAABVc/0cfcWPT8fJo/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BoM0lGjolVs/T-KHDrt2x9I/AAAAAAAABVc/0cfcWPT8fJo/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ca4fhBvvZis/T-KHLBtCgUI/AAAAAAAABVs/BVnAeEqimzY/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ca4fhBvvZis/T-KHLBtCgUI/AAAAAAAABVs/BVnAeEqimzY/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-75038515285189707842012-06-16T23:00:00.000-04:002012-06-17T08:14:50.775-04:00Time for Tea<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This past week has been crazy.&nbsp; I've heard that from just about everyone I have come into contact with this week.&nbsp; For some reason, everything is falling on this second full week of June.&nbsp; For us, it was a dance recital, karate camp, my son's 8th birthday and a class on tea.&nbsp; For now, I will focus on the tea class and maybe I'll come back to the other stuff later.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tea has always been a time to slow down for me and after such a busy week, this was the perfect ending.&nbsp; My girls, ages 13 and 14, had the opportunity to take a tea class with a friend who we met through homeschooling.&nbsp; She knows so much about tea and I felt it was such a wonderful opportunity for us that she was offering this class through 4-H.&nbsp; The girls attended 2 classes prior to this week where they learned about tea - what it is, where it comes from, some cultural traditions, etc.&nbsp; Then this week, they went on a field trip to Georgetown, Va to visit a Chinese tea room.&nbsp; They got together one more time to prepare foods for the tea we enjoyed this evening.&nbsp; All of the families came to this perfect outdoor setting with perfect weather&nbsp;and it was the perfect ending to our week.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qy4f9RQvB0c/T93FZM3xlZI/AAAAAAAABUU/iamTfbaoU2Y/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qy4f9RQvB0c/T93FZM3xlZI/AAAAAAAABUU/iamTfbaoU2Y/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They&nbsp;made their own tea blends, including Chai, Chocolate Vanilla Mint, Rose Mint, Tarragon Sage with Mint. Also, Ancient Forrest and Darjeeling.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6Us0kPoac0/T93FcR4tLEI/AAAAAAAABUc/iwDGrxLr5WI/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6Us0kPoac0/T93FcR4tLEI/AAAAAAAABUc/iwDGrxLr5WI/s320/013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The girls are getting ready to serve tea.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmiwWHmYNKI/T93FiT4IAZI/AAAAAAAABUk/mc2qwVqRfNg/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zmiwWHmYNKI/T93FiT4IAZI/AAAAAAAABUk/mc2qwVqRfNg/s320/023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">DD13 serving the younger siblings.&nbsp; All of the children waited so patiently.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9kw-vhF0hxo/T93Fo5jb2aI/AAAAAAAABUs/iArxXH0L4dU/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9kw-vhF0hxo/T93Fo5jb2aI/AAAAAAAABUs/iArxXH0L4dU/s320/025.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">DD13 gave a quick speech about the field trip to the Chinese tea room.&nbsp; She spoke about the tea she tried, how it was prepared and the food she had.&nbsp; Her tea came as a little ball that was put in a glass pot where it "bloomed".&nbsp; </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4aLmPgQEVCM/T93FssbHzPI/AAAAAAAABU0/QTc_-wsjg5w/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4aLmPgQEVCM/T93FssbHzPI/AAAAAAAABU0/QTc_-wsjg5w/s320/030.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">DD14 gave a quick speech about the Chinese tea room.&nbsp; </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJFK1OJcwLE/T93Fv3RRr7I/AAAAAAAABU8/C-KfNf3__wM/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJFK1OJcwLE/T93Fv3RRr7I/AAAAAAAABU8/C-KfNf3__wM/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All of the food was made from scratch by the girls and their moms.&nbsp; Fruit salads, cucumber sandwiches, russian tea cakes and marbled eggs were just a few of the delicacies served.</div><div class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RYdg1c018v4/T93I5670XvI/AAAAAAAABVQ/mgLMI45jMeo/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RYdg1c018v4/T93I5670XvI/AAAAAAAABVQ/mgLMI45jMeo/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Teacher of the class and hostess of the tea this evening. She provided such an amazing experience for these girls that I think they will remember for a very long time. Thank you, Maureen.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U3etKtIWpow/T93Fyig_ipI/AAAAAAAABVE/MdTxxmyy4A4/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U3etKtIWpow/T93Fyig_ipI/AAAAAAAABVE/MdTxxmyy4A4/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-45777748358544988042012-02-17T08:26:00.008-05:002012-02-22T14:21:21.833-05:00Picture Study - CaravaggioOver the last two years, we have been attempting to make our co-op more Charlotte Mason friendly. We have incorporated picture studies that seem to be a big hit.<br /><br /><br />During our winter sesssion, we are studying Caravaggio. I will caution you that if you choose to do this artist, he has produced some very graphic works. Lots of beheadings in particular. So I sorted through the paintings and found these four that I felt were "family friendly". Each is filled with symbolism and it has been a joy to explore each piece with the kids at the co-op.<br /><br /><br /><br />To go along with each work, I have made copywork pages that I leave out at the co-op for parents to take if they wish.<br /><br /><br />Caravaggio was an Italian artist with tremendous influence on the Baroque Period. Each of the paintings is a depiction of a Bible story from the New Testament, so it seems natural to incorporate scripture with each of the pieces.<br /><br />· Adoration of the Shepherds ~ Luke 2:8-18<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VItL11073fY/Tz5W0_iGFzI/AAAAAAAABTE/cNuyEZu2n94/s1600/Adoration%2Bof%2Bthe%2BShepherds2.bmp"><img style="WIDTH: 212px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710096845959993138" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VItL11073fY/Tz5W0_iGFzI/AAAAAAAABTE/cNuyEZu2n94/s320/Adoration%2Bof%2Bthe%2BShepherds2.bmp" /></a><br /><br />Symbolism includes:<br /><br /><ul><br /><li>Bare feet - walking on holy ground</li><br /><li>Rock on the ground - Earth (Jesus came to Earth)</li><br /><li>Linen in basket - Death shroud (Jesus came to die)</li><br /><li>Bread in baske - Bread of life</li><br /><li>Carpenter's tools - Jesus earthly occupation</li><br /><li><br /><br /></li></ul><br />· Rest on the Flight to Egypt ~ Matthew 2:13-15<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l9W7ptpWqrA/Tz5W7yWfG0I/AAAAAAAABTQ/Q0Y-kCWO7xU/s1600/Rest%2Bon%2BFlight%2Bto%2BEgypt.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710096962680724290" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l9W7ptpWqrA/Tz5W7yWfG0I/AAAAAAAABTQ/Q0Y-kCWO7xU/s320/Rest%2Bon%2BFlight%2Bto%2BEgypt.jpg" /></a><br />This picture is divided in half. The left half symbolizes the earthly. The right side symbolizes the heavenly.<br /><br />Symbols include:<br /><br /><ul><br /><li>Three-leafed plant - the holy trinity</li><br /><li>Rocks on the ground - Earth (Jesus came to Earth)</li><br /><li>Oak tree - I'm sure this is a symbol, but I don't know what it means</li><br /><li>Bare feet - holy ground<br /><br /></li></ul><br /><p>Calling of St. Matthew ~ Matthew 9:9</p><br /><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rzVJgajQiJg/Tz5Xd2nuNgI/AAAAAAAABTo/mkNx4gp3zO4/s1600/Calling%2Bof%2BSt%2BMatthew.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710097547942311426" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rzVJgajQiJg/Tz5Xd2nuNgI/AAAAAAAABTo/mkNx4gp3zO4/s320/Calling%2Bof%2BSt%2BMatthew.jpg" /></a></p>Jesus is calling Matthew to follow him. The tax collectors on the far left don't seem to notice Jesus and will miss out on all that Jesus brings. They are entirely too focused on their money. The youth in the middle of the piece seem a little startled, but interested. The room seems somewhat dark, but those looking toward Jesus have a light cast on their faces. Jesus is the light of the world.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Supper at Emmaus (1601) ~ Luke 24:13-35<br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--3m8szsxOAs/Tz5Z3J3xQvI/AAAAAAAABT0/sl45VZYz4lo/s1600/Supper_at_Emmaus1601.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710100181629879026" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--3m8szsxOAs/Tz5Z3J3xQvI/AAAAAAAABT0/sl45VZYz4lo/s320/Supper_at_Emmaus1601.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Jesus is clean shaven, which makes him unrecognizable. This is the moment when Jesus is recognized. His followers are astonished, yet the man who is serving the meal doesn't seem surprised. I'm certain each food item on the table has some significance, but am unable to find what it is. The white tablecloth would indicate purity. I am continuing to research this piece to try to find the symbolizm that might be included in it.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br />Caravaggio was known to have a violent temper and ran for his life from many towns around Italy*. His general disposition may explain why so many of his works contain violent subjects such as beheadings and crucifixions. The four pieces we will focus on are more family friendly and are rich with symbolism.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-68647862597422768372012-02-02T14:21:00.002-05:002012-02-24T18:03:50.823-05:00Weight Watchers<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l-yxm9_14Eo/T0gPkNPu7lI/AAAAAAAABUA/_T65ZzVyc-I/s1600/060.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 286px; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712833242024832594" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l-yxm9_14Eo/T0gPkNPu7lI/AAAAAAAABUA/_T65ZzVyc-I/s320/060.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Uv7Ir9c3Xc/T0gPkdAvIeI/AAAAAAAABUI/iqJYsbVkh_4/s1600/IMG953002.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 210px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712833246256898530" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Uv7Ir9c3Xc/T0gPkdAvIeI/AAAAAAAABUI/iqJYsbVkh_4/s320/IMG953002.jpg" /></a><br />What a difference a year makes. This is me, before and after Weight Watchers. I lost a total of 50 pounds in about 9 months and am very pleased with the Weight Watchers program. You can see the date stamp on the first picture of December 2010. The second picture was taken at the beginning of November 2011.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>One of my measuring sticks when I first walked in was the question "Can I live like this for the rest of my life?" Quite honestly, any weight loss program will work. But can you live eating only meat for the rest of your life or just eating special, very expensive food that you have to order through the mail? I cannot. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I've tried Weight Watchers before and was in pain because I was so hungry. The program changed at the beginning of 2011 and I thought I'd give it a try. And I continually asked myself "Can I live like this the rest of my life?" After a year, I can honestly say that yes I can live like this. It is a healthier lifestyle based on choices I make. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I still choose to go to Chinese food buffets (my absolute favorite), but I'm careful not to overdo it. I look for the healthier options and if I want a heaping plate of General Tso's chicken, I get it. I just don't do that every day. That is something I might do occasionally.<br /></div><br /><div>Weight Watchers has helped to make me aware of portion sizes and food choices. For that I am very grateful. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I am currently a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. This is going to help keep me on track with my lifestyle change. Even though I only have to weigh in once a month, I am planning to weigh in every week. Knowing myself as I do, I know that I need the accountablity and that is okay with me. This is part of the lifestyle change I can live with.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>One last note: I believe that most of the time, weight gain/loss is an emotional issue. If you are not willing to deal with what is really at the core of your weight issues, then no diet plan in the world is going to help you. It takes commitment, but also a healthy attitude toward food and activity. </div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-83326128388021473462011-10-28T17:52:00.000-04:002012-01-09T20:45:30.141-05:00Birthday Tribute (We have 2 teenagers in the house now!)My precious daughter turned 13 today. It delights me to see her growing up knowing God the way she does. Although I have my days when I miss that baby I brought home from the hospital, she is maturing into such a beautiful young woman.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vxRk3H_z57o/Tq3IlopVwhI/AAAAAAAABQk/L49tmlyNC9o/s1600/Christmas%2B200001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669408054820848146" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vxRk3H_z57o/Tq3IlopVwhI/AAAAAAAABQk/L49tmlyNC9o/s320/Christmas%2B200001.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>2000 - One of my favorite baby pictures of her. She fell asleep here and stayed there for quite some time.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8udtyPBct_g/Tq3IlyeOy8I/AAAAAAAABQ0/irCTlWj9LiA/s1600/P2130001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669408057458609090" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8udtyPBct_g/Tq3IlyeOy8I/AAAAAAAABQ0/irCTlWj9LiA/s320/P2130001.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>2001 ~ Gotta love that Binky. Her shirt says "Warning: I am Two!"</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14KAsY8eXxU/Tq3ImgIPsUI/AAAAAAAABQ8/dUegp6aVPCI/s1600/PA050034.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669408069714424130" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14KAsY8eXxU/Tq3ImgIPsUI/AAAAAAAABQ8/dUegp6aVPCI/s320/PA050034.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>2003 - Picture taken on a hay ride to go out an pick pumpkins.<br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V8EhvNa0Tc8/Tq3Im9LvohI/AAAAAAAABRI/jQ2OYrvpVqM/s1600/PA260034.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669408077513728530" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V8EhvNa0Tc8/Tq3Im9LvohI/AAAAAAAABRI/jQ2OYrvpVqM/s320/PA260034.JPG" /></a></div>2006 ~ Love that toothless smile.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsHqsnYqnv0/Tq3KfqBOyLI/AAAAAAAABRk/p365TLHpXQs/s1600/037.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669410151133530290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsHqsnYqnv0/Tq3KfqBOyLI/AAAAAAAABRk/p365TLHpXQs/s320/037.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>2008 ~ Must ALWAYS dress for the occasion. We were hometown tourists in Gettysburg and she couldn't just wear a t-shirt.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--nK589feiVk/Tq3Kf9YmtAI/AAAAAAAABRw/lZs3GWe-TcI/s1600/143.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669410156331840514" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--nK589feiVk/Tq3Kf9YmtAI/AAAAAAAABRw/lZs3GWe-TcI/s320/143.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>2008 ~ A Pink .22 for Christmas. Notice the vintage-style nightgown. She is very feminine, yet can hold her own.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JlehG3Ipdt0/Tq3KgtmtTQI/AAAAAAAABR8/8BHnIi71dhs/s1600/120.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669410169275895042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JlehG3Ipdt0/Tq3KgtmtTQI/AAAAAAAABR8/8BHnIi71dhs/s320/120.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>2010 ~ A Christmas Eve Tradition in our house is new PJ's. We call it the first present of Christmas.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qBBU5DZzAdw/Tq3KgxHhYAI/AAAAAAAABSE/rQiQgSu0JXs/s1600/Just%2BBreathe.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669410170218831874" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qBBU5DZzAdw/Tq3KgxHhYAI/AAAAAAAABSE/rQiQgSu0JXs/s320/Just%2BBreathe.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>Happy Birthday, Beautiful Girl!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-2990794675190596562011-10-16T08:27:00.002-04:002011-10-16T08:44:04.173-04:00Why I'm Beginning to Love WednesdaysWednesdays are quickly becoming my favorite day of the week. It's the day after we go to Classical Conversations and the kids have all of their new assignments for the week. <br /><br />My oldest two (ages 12 and 14), often get up early to get a quick start on their school work. They set up their assignment sheets the night before (something CC strongly encourages so the students can learn time management) and are ready to dive in when they arise. They work quietly and diligently on their assignments all morning. They do have questions and I help them through those. DD12 will often ask that I read with her, and I do. We read her assingments together and have some wonderful discussions about them. Sometimes their dad is in the room and will jump in on discussions.<br /><br />At lunch time they break to eat, and are back at it for the afternoon. I love being in the other room when the girls are practicing their latin. Frequently, they break into a fake old-world accent and talk like that through the entire study time (sometimes the accent sticks around way into the evening). It's funny to listen to.<br /><br />All this time, I am cleaning the house and preparing meals for the day. <br />DS7 will get up at some point during the morning and I will sit with him to review his CC lessons. I also give him a math lesson (Saxon 2) and a language lesson (First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind). My goal is to read a book with him in the afternoons and that doesn't happen as often as I would like.<br /><br />Throughout the day, the girls will take 10 minute walks to stretch their legs and clear their minds. When they are finished with their assignements for the day, they will go outside with a camera and start snapping away. <br /><br />Dinner time comes and we enjoy a meal together before we head off to church for the evening. <br /><br />I wish everyday were like this. For now, I will savor every Wednesday as it rolls around. It's a beautiful thing.Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-81955771659509030382011-09-06T19:43:00.000-04:002011-10-02T19:45:20.763-04:00Classical ConversationsI have heard of Classical Conversations a few times over the last couple of years, but never really caught what it was about.&nbsp; Finally this past spring, I went to an information meeting.&nbsp; I was hooked within the first 10 minutes.&nbsp; What hooked me?&nbsp; The presenter hit on two of my primary reasons for choosing to educate my children at home.<br />1. Classical Conversations (CC)&nbsp;helps to nurture children's innate love of learning.<br />2. CC wants to nuture thinkers, not sheep.<br /><br />Over the next couple of months, I researched and found that I really liked everything about CC.&nbsp; It is well organized, they use quality literature, real-life resources and they recognize the parent as the child's primary teacher.&nbsp; <br /><br />Cost?&nbsp; Yes, it's a little more expensive than a regular co-op.&nbsp; However, I believe you are getting what you pay for.&nbsp; In my opinion, it is worth every penny.<br /><br />My daughters are at Challenge level.&nbsp; I was a little nervous about placing them there since we had never done a curriculum like this before.&nbsp; We went to our first CC meeting last week and I am truly amazed at how well my girls have stepped up to the plate.&nbsp; Of course, I had to set a standard and explain that if school work for the day wasn't finished, we wouldn't leave the house for horse stables, ballet, 4-H or anything.&nbsp; Somehow that motivated them to get up at about 7:30 every morning over the last week to get their assignments for the day finished.<br /><br />I hope to be able to continue posting out CC journey as we walk this new path over the next year.Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-17095152782824973022011-06-08T11:02:00.008-04:002011-06-08T15:00:09.583-04:00Civil War Ball<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-luyR3TEcvQ8/Te-P1ZgdTWI/AAAAAAAABPc/5ONHRIzniTg/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615865407897161058" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-luyR3TEcvQ8/Te-P1ZgdTWI/AAAAAAAABPc/5ONHRIzniTg/s320/013.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">First of all, ignore the dates on these pictures. I put new batteries in the camera and it defaulted back to that date. </p><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">Our homeschool group has a spring formal each year. It is a family event that we say is like a wedding reception without the wedding. It's a chance for us to dress up in fancy clothes and come together to have a good time. This year we chose a Civil War theme and the event quickly turned into a Civil War Ball. We were able to find <a href="http://www.danzaantiqua.com/">dance instructors</a> who came and taught us not only the dances of the time period, but also spoke to us about ettiquette. We also had a <a href="http://celebratingmomentsbymarcie.blogspot.com/">professional photographer/decorator</a> come in and transform the room on the lower level of our local Ag center. This was a social event, but something families could put into their homeschool portfolios as well.</p><br /><br /><p align="left">I think pictures are worth a thousand words, so I have a few to share.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q3gJvLyUgq0/Te-Q50z79mI/AAAAAAAABP8/8iAXZyPe6So/s1600/248582_1572094120563_1781836172_970688_3124581_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615866583457724002" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q3gJvLyUgq0/Te-Q50z79mI/AAAAAAAABP8/8iAXZyPe6So/s320/248582_1572094120563_1781836172_970688_3124581_n.jpg" /></a><br />The woman to the far left is a mom in our group who volunteered to coordinate the spring formal. While she was taking care of the details for this event, she made the dress she is wearing.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QdLH-P-vKv8/Te-P1MqUG1I/AAAAAAAABPU/omm4ml3h9qQ/s1600/042.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615865404448840530" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QdLH-P-vKv8/Te-P1MqUG1I/AAAAAAAABPU/omm4ml3h9qQ/s320/042.JPG" /></a><br />Although period attire was not required, I had fun borrowing this dress complete with hoop from another homeschool mom.<br />Our dress code was simple enough. We asked everyone to dress modestly (no cleavage, skirts below the knee, etc.). Attendees did not have to wear formal attire either. They could come in their Sunday Best with men wearing ties and women wearing dresses, skirts or dress slacks. We specified no sneakers or flip flops (doesn't matter how fancy they are).<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7GlXSdWb2PI/Te-Q6NXSgeI/AAAAAAAABQE/BiGlIZzo3Gk/s1600/047.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615866590048453090" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7GlXSdWb2PI/Te-Q6NXSgeI/AAAAAAAABQE/BiGlIZzo3Gk/s320/047.JPG" /></a><br />Me with my little southern belle. She found this dress last summer at a thrift store for $5 and she knit her shawl. We did go into Gettysburg to get accessories like gloves and jewelry.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o3hR4bp-y3k/Te-P2iL3uWI/AAAAAAAABP0/B_Xk6I_tJZU/s1600/031.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615865427406600546" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o3hR4bp-y3k/Te-P2iL3uWI/AAAAAAAABP0/B_Xk6I_tJZU/s320/031.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">DD13 having a great time.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k9ctEJ8uOG0/Te-P1-OScEI/AAAAAAAABPs/ANzwzJ5M-uY/s1600/247638_1572092680527_1781836172_970684_2332175_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615865417753063490" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k9ctEJ8uOG0/Te-P1-OScEI/AAAAAAAABPs/ANzwzJ5M-uY/s320/247638_1572092680527_1781836172_970684_2332175_n.jpg" /></a><br />Amongst the Civil War dances, we also squeezed in the chicken dance. It was rather interesting to see that dance being done in a hoop.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v0xvOr0yA1g/Te-WBSXr93I/AAAAAAAABQc/iYClnV1s51s/s1600/IMG_1207%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615872209209522034" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v0xvOr0yA1g/Te-WBSXr93I/AAAAAAAABQc/iYClnV1s51s/s320/IMG_1207%255B1%255D.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">This is DS7 popping in on someone else's picture. We were able to outfit him in CSA gear. My husband is from Alabama and DS just had to be a confederate soldier.<br />This couple was very gracious in sharing this photo with me and not being upset with him for butting in.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-RjthxAh_g/Te-Q_mCkU-I/AAAAAAAABQU/AQWUWsVX6Jk/s1600/254050_1572112201015_1781836172_970748_66904_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615866682571772898" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-RjthxAh_g/Te-Q_mCkU-I/AAAAAAAABQU/AQWUWsVX6Jk/s320/254050_1572112201015_1781836172_970748_66904_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">At the end of the evening, all the decorations were taken down and the tables were put away, but several of our young people continued to dance.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AFT-q2s2C48/Te-Q6Tmo3TI/AAAAAAAABQM/e_nk5ouJIKA/s1600/246770_1572101920758_1781836172_970711_4027046_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615866591723445554" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AFT-q2s2C48/Te-Q6Tmo3TI/AAAAAAAABQM/e_nk5ouJIKA/s320/246770_1572101920758_1781836172_970711_4027046_n.jpg" /></a></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-55339730757962969122011-04-27T15:24:00.002-04:002011-04-27T15:29:55.705-04:00Wrapping upEvery year it is my goal to finish with our core subjects by the end of April. We are really close. At this stage in the game, I rely on my daughters ages 12 and 13 to be independent and complete their school work without a lot of prodding from me. <br /><br />REALITY CHECK HERE---It actually takes lots of prodding. It amazes me how they don't forget that dance lessons are Tuesday night or that I need to drive someone to the stables at 3. Somehow, they often forget that they need to be finishing their lessons for the day. <br /><br />I had a conversation with DD13 today and explained that when she is finished with her 8th grade work, she can start her "summer break". If it takes her to December, she won't get a summer break, but she won't be in 9th grade until her assignments for 8th grade are finished. Somehow this is a tough concept to grasp at 13.Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-48127056709366611252011-04-05T21:10:00.014-04:002011-04-09T04:54:25.476-04:00ConfirmationI feel the need to preface this post with the following: This is my experience and I am aware that my experience may be biased due to my beliefs. Others who might be in the same situation may see things entirely different. However, I feel it is important to share my experiences. Due to our financial situation, I have gone to the public schools in my area to substitute teach this spring. In this post, I am only discussing what I saw today in a 5th grade classroom. It seems that every day that I go in to sub, I start the day thinking, "I could do this. If something happened to my husband, I could really do this again." It's not unfamiliar territory to me because I've done it all before. I realize in a substitute position, I'm going to see the worst behaviors. The children's authority figure (a.k.a. the teacher) is not present and they don't know me from Adam. I get that. Today, when the children's assignments were finished, I tried to play a game with them. The kids were in groups of four. I gave one child in each group a sheet of lined paper. That child wrote an opening sentence to a story. After a period of time, the paper was passed to the next child to write the second sentence, and so on. In the meantime, a woman came into the room. I'm not sure who she was because she didn't introduce herself and there was nothing in the sub plans about anyone who was to come to the room. She stood silent on one side of the room. I believe she was there to assist kids who had mild special needs. So back to the writing activity - after the first round, I quickly realized I should have gone over more ground rules besides just using capital letters and punctuation. I should have included rules like "Let's not write a story about poop." and "If you must use a classmates name in the story, be sure it won't be embarassing or insulting to him." After listening to a couple of awful stories, I stopped and collected them. At that point I explained the additional ground rules and explained the "why" for each rule. Then, I asked if what they wrote before would be something they wanted their parents to read. I could see some remorse in the room and felt the offense would not be repeated. It was clearly time to move on. Then out of the blue, the silent woman in the room said, "Or worse yet, would you want the principal to read those stories?" (She did emphasize the principal's name.) That is all she said the entire class period. Yikes! I guess I'm coming from a perspective that children should have to answer to their parents. She totally wiped that out by throwing the principal comment out there. And I thought, "There it is!! The subliminal message that we owe more homage to the government than to our families." I hope my own children would know how to act appropriately when I'm not around. I hope they don't do things that would cause embarassment to themselves or to others. What I'm seeing in the public schools are a bunch of mean kids - especially the girls! They are just downright mean. I could see DD12 slipping into that meanness as a matter of survival. I could see DD13 just withdrawing from everyone. I don't want that for my kids. School is supposed to be an educational institution that is also a safe environment. It simply isn't safe on a number of levels. I feel that I have this unique front row seat to watch what's going on in the schools that even the parents of those kids don't get to see. I try to go in open minded and have a positive attitude. Not all days are like today. Nonetheless, I have a high number of days like this. Tomorrow, I will be happy to go see a stage production of Aladdin with my kids next to me. If inappropriate things come up, I (not other children) will have the opportunity to discuss it through. I'm thankful to our Sovereign Lord that I have the freedom to homeschool my kids.Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-37098132571293622732010-10-27T09:59:00.000-04:002010-10-27T08:42:52.088-04:00Pieter Bruegel<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TMgdwxx5SKI/AAAAAAAABOE/b1eQHQ74ckI/s1600/08drawin.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 91px; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532704866058193058" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TMgdwxx5SKI/AAAAAAAABOE/b1eQHQ74ckI/s320/08drawin.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />During the fall session of our mini co-op, we did picture studies of Pieter Bruegel the elder. This was something new we added to the co-op this year as we are trying to gear our co-op toward Charlotte Mason.<br /><div><div><br /><div>I feel that the picture study was good to have. We started each co-op meeting with opening exercises (prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, a song and announcements). The nursery was dismissed and we began our picture study. </div><br /><br /><div>Each child ages 4 and up was given a copy of the picture face down. When I gave the signal, everyone turned their picture over to study it in silence. No talking is allowed at this time. They get about 90 seconds to 2 minutes to carefully examine their picture. Then I asked them what they see in the picture. Hands shoot up as everyone is eager to share what they see. I will tell them what I know about the picture. For example, Pieter Bruegel painted a work entitled "Census at Bethlehem". Kids will see so many things going on in the picture, but when I tell them the picture depicts a Bible story, I can hear the ooo's and aahh's in the room.</div><br /><br /><div>When our discussion is over, I dismiss the 4 to 6 year olds to their class (only because this is a non-writing group) and I pass out a notebook page along with a smaller copy of the picture we are studying and ask the kids to write whatever they want about the picture. It can be a list of words or a paragraph or anything in between, but they must write something. When they ask, I (or another parent) helps with spelling.<br /><br /></div><br /><div>Here are the 4 pictures we studied this fall.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Peasant Wedding</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TMgTMiE0xTI/AAAAAAAABNk/cnEwINBUafs/s1600/wedding.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532693248251053362" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TMgTMiE0xTI/AAAAAAAABNk/cnEwINBUafs/s320/wedding.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Census at Bethlehem</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TMgTNV0Mz6I/AAAAAAAABNs/mh82fsM3wzQ/s1600/Census+at+Bethlehem.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532693262139969442" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TMgTNV0Mz6I/AAAAAAAABNs/mh82fsM3wzQ/s320/Census+at+Bethlehem.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Haymaking</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TMgTNyLqqjI/AAAAAAAABN0/psrdWhhQKtU/s1600/Haymaking.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532693269754587698" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TMgTNyLqqjI/AAAAAAAABN0/psrdWhhQKtU/s320/Haymaking.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div></div>Children's Games<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TMgTOd82U4I/AAAAAAAABN8/ofRGOAxcQS8/s1600/bruegel21.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532693281503597442" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TMgTOd82U4I/AAAAAAAABN8/ofRGOAxcQS8/s320/bruegel21.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-66530675048347412732010-10-04T21:00:00.002-04:002010-10-06T12:08:49.049-04:00Canning Tomatoes<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TKybjgtD9TI/AAAAAAAABNM/21djTvy93Tc/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 259px; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524961877253420338" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TKybjgtD9TI/AAAAAAAABNM/21djTvy93Tc/s320/020.JPG" /></a></div>As I sat down to enjoy lunch at church on Sunday, a dear friend sat next to me and asked if I had a need for tomatoes. Silly question. Due to our two moves in the last 6 months, we were not able to put a garden in and at the current time, our grocery envelope was empty with payday being 5 days away. So we were happy to take her surplus tomatoes.<br /><br />I managed to get everything set up to can the tomatoes and noticed Dd(11) on the computer and Ds(6) watching mindless television. I announced that all screens needed to be shut off and much to my surprise, there was little resistance. Of course, the kids came into the kitchen where I was and became curious when they spotted the pots on the stove and the empty jars on the counter. After they asked, I invited them to join me.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TKybkgxsCZI/AAAAAAAABNc/tHVzt5MnZOM/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524961894452693394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TKybkgxsCZI/AAAAAAAABNc/tHVzt5MnZOM/s320/018.JPG" /></a><br /><br />DD(11) loves anything to do with homemaking. She mimics anything I do. If I get out a sewing project, she dives right in with a project of her own. So it didn't surprise me when she slipped right over to the stove to help.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TKybj90J7FI/AAAAAAAABNU/o4oEwt47HRQ/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524961885067799634" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TKybj90J7FI/AAAAAAAABNU/o4oEwt47HRQ/s320/011.JPG" /></a><br />However, DS(6) did surprise me. I often have this tendency to think "He's too young for this" and every time, I am wrong. He jumped right in and loved peeling the tomatoes.<br /><br /><br /><br />We only canned 4 jars, but the experience is worth it. If nothing else, the kids need to see how to do this stuff.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TKybjZzQFqI/AAAAAAAABNE/BsS0SjimRqk/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524961875400332962" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TKybjZzQFqI/AAAAAAAABNE/BsS0SjimRqk/s320/007.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TKybjFveDwI/AAAAAAAABM8/vXtjh3vrNEs/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524961870015762178" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TKybjFveDwI/AAAAAAAABM8/vXtjh3vrNEs/s320/009.JPG" /></a> </div><div>I'm sure Charlotte Mason says something about kids in the kitchen, but I am unable to come up with anything at the moment. Even though I can't quote her, I still think she would approve.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-78601230602975954242010-09-17T04:49:00.009-04:002010-09-22T08:54:28.620-04:00Coal Mining Unit Study<p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxCXfi5aI/AAAAAAAABMM/YOjVFk4TcXI/s1600/167.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519707841287611810" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxCXfi5aI/AAAAAAAABMM/YOjVFk4TcXI/s320/167.JPG" /></a></p><div align="left"><br />In the month of August, our family became familiar with the coal mining industry. I felt it was important for two reasons:<br /><br /><br />1. It is part of our family's heritage. My grandfather was a coal miner, as well as many of my mother's uncles and cousins.<br /><br /><br />2. It is a huge industry in Pennsylvania. Although coal was associated with the steel industry when I was growing up, it is now a major component in the manufacture of electricity now.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxmT7CWcI/AAAAAAAABMc/ZMQMz34e1Yo/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519708458804468162" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxmT7CWcI/AAAAAAAABMc/ZMQMz34e1Yo/s320/017.JPG" /></a></p><p><br />Subject areas covered through our study:<br /><br />History - (specifically Pennsylvania history) From its beginnings in the 1800's to the present day, there have been many changes with technology and mine safety.<br /><br /><br />Science - Geology - a study of rock and rock layering; the differences between anthricite coal and bituminous coal<br /><br /><br />Science - Chemistry - Coal burns! So does methane gas which can be commonly found in coal mines.<br /><br /><br />Geography - We looked at maps of the United States that mark where coal deposits are<br /><br /><br />Language Arts - We read many books from the library on the topic.<br /><br /><br />Language Arts, Living History - We interviewed a family member who was a foreman in the coal mines in Greene County and retired within recent years from the coal mines.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxDCWkgaI/AAAAAAAABMU/EKDAO5SHhjA/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519707852792693154" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxDCWkgaI/AAAAAAAABMU/EKDAO5SHhjA/s320/001.JPG" /></a><br />Uncle David worked the coal mines since 1969 and said that he would still be in the mines if he could be. He retired a few years ago for medical reasons.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnzXQfBMAI/AAAAAAAABM0/h_KOUQudw8g/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 171px; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519710399206862850" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnzXQfBMAI/AAAAAAAABM0/h_KOUQudw8g/s320/023.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxnZx_l-I/AAAAAAAABMs/eiTMJiZb_Ec/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 276px; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519708477557020642" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxnZx_l-I/AAAAAAAABMs/eiTMJiZb_Ec/s320/024.JPG" /></a><br />Show and tell - Here Uncle David is showing us his belt and all the gadgets on it and his lunch pail. I was surprised that they still use these types of pails today for their lunches. They seem so old-fashioned, but there is a purpose for their design.<br /><br /><br />Language Arts, Living History - We are still waiting to interview the pastor from our church who grew up in a coal mining camp.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxBJGaToI/AAAAAAAABL8/CLRou1PH3jo/s1600/161.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519707820244225666" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxBJGaToI/AAAAAAAABL8/CLRou1PH3jo/s320/161.JPG" /></a></p><p align="left"><br />Resources used:<br /><br /><br />Books - there are way more books out there than what I have listed here. These are just our 3 favorites.<br /><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=chrihomeeducs-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=0395979145&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br />This book is a favorite. It gives first hand accounts of miner's experiences in the mines.<br /><br /><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=chrihomeeducs-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=1590780205&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br />Even though this is a Christmas book, it has lots of good information in it. Very Charlotte Mason.<br /><br /><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=chrihomeeducs-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=1401300553&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>Another living book as it is an account of everything that happened in the mine and is told by the miners themselves. Since it is told by the miners, I would advise parents to review the book first. There is some swearing in it. I read it out loud to my family and "edited" the swear words.<br /><br /><br /><br />Field trips<br /><a href="http://www.quecreeknine.com/">Quecreek Mine</a>, Somerset, Pa<br />In 2005, 9 miners were trapped underground for 77 hours. Miraculously, they all made it out alive. The site where the men were brought out of the earth has a monument of the event as well as a visitor's center with lots of information about the incident and the coal mining industry in general.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxAzSUPfI/AAAAAAAABL0/OVKoB5a7a6o/s1600/152.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519707814388579826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxAzSUPfI/AAAAAAAABL0/OVKoB5a7a6o/s320/152.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.tour-edmine.com/">Tour Ed Mine</a>, Tarentum, Pa<br />This was a great hands-on field trip that took us 1/2 mile underground into an old mine. Once inside, we walked through time as we explored coal mining in it's earliest days through the technological changes over about 100 years. Outside of the mine is a museum with artifacts from the company store and<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kingcoalshow.org/Home_Page.php">King Coal Festival</a>, Carmichaels, Pa<br />Here, we were able to see the Coal parade that included many floats about the history of coal as well as all the regular local marching bands. At the end of the parade was the Bitumonous Coal Queen and her court. Afterward, we went to the local firehall where there were displays of artifacts from the coal industry.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxmyjqgiI/AAAAAAAABMk/Yb8u8gAtbkg/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519708467027935778" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TJnxmyjqgiI/AAAAAAAABMk/Yb8u8gAtbkg/s320/019.JPG" /></a><br />At the King Coal Festival, we had the opportunity to talk with old coal miners. The man in the blue shirt started in the coal mine when he was 12 years old back in 1939. He was full of information and took the time to explain the artifacts and share his experiences with us.<br /><br /><br /><br />Online resources<br /><br /><a href="http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00461/fun.htm">Oracle Thinkquest</a> - Mining Fun: This website is loaded with coloring pages, games and activities that went well with our study.</p><p><a href="http://www.teachcoal.org/lessonplans/id_types.html">American Coal Foundation</a> - This resource helped us to get into the science of coal.<br /><br /></p>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-41136837474464642432010-08-25T20:32:00.001-04:002010-08-26T09:23:26.264-04:00Visit to Quecreek Mine<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/THZfGGRYn1I/AAAAAAAABLE/OanTu0II8eM/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509695752501763922" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/THZfGGRYn1I/AAAAAAAABLE/OanTu0II8eM/s320/003.JPG" /></a><br /><br />On July 28, 2002, 9 miners were lifted out of the earth where they were trapped for 77 hours. It is an incredible story of how they all made it out alive.<br /><br />On our way to Pittsburgh to visit my mom, we stopped at the <a href="http://www.quecreekrescue.org/">Quecreek Mine</a> rescue site in Somerset, Pa for a few moments.<br /><br />If you have the opportunity to study this story, I encourage you to research it and share it with your children. It is a story of how these men came together and survived. It is also a story about the sanctity of life. There are a few books written and the book I appreciate the most is Our Story: 77 Hours That Tested Our Friendship and Our Faith as told to Jeff Goodell (see link below). I will warn you that there is some swearing in the book because it is a book of first-hand accounts of what happened.<br /><br />This goes along with our study of the coal industry, the history of coal mining, and the science of coal. In the next couple of days, I plan to create a post of the resources I have found on this topic.<br /><br />For now, here are some pictures from our visit.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/THZfH-K--cI/AAAAAAAABLk/Bi5frJ-D700/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509695784687172034" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/THZfH-K--cI/AAAAAAAABLk/Bi5frJ-D700/s320/005.JPG" /></a><br />This is the actual shaft that the miners were brought back to the surface through.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/THZfHXT401I/AAAAAAAABLc/4j-_P2THaTU/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509695774255534930" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/THZfHXT401I/AAAAAAAABLc/4j-_P2THaTU/s320/013.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/THZfGxq9iVI/AAAAAAAABLU/BJkCimsQ-A0/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509695764151765330" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/THZfGxq9iVI/AAAAAAAABLU/BJkCimsQ-A0/s320/011.JPG" /></a><br />The shuttle.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/THZfGhm27AI/AAAAAAAABLM/QYXvCJfdras/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509695759839587330" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/THZfGhm27AI/AAAAAAAABLM/QYXvCJfdras/s320/004.JPG" /></a><br />The inscription on the book reads:<br />"They who work the mines<br />And they who read great books<br />Are but one, their name is human...<br />By the labor of their hands,<br />through the exercise of their minds<br />And in the strength of their spirit,<br />They will prevail."<br />7 May 2002<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=chrihomeeducs-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=158724411X&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-84564854070535272042010-08-18T22:30:00.003-04:002010-08-18T23:14:54.371-04:00Quilting Handicrafts<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TGyXpyrRYyI/AAAAAAAABKk/ebkjnL8IlhA/s1600/034.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506943188600972066" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TGyXpyrRYyI/AAAAAAAABKk/ebkjnL8IlhA/s320/034.JPG" /></a><br />I first fell in love with quilting when I was pregnant with my first. I had borrowed some Quilt in a Day <a href="http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponline/dvds.asp">videos</a> from the library and was hooked. As with any other skill, I made some mistakes in the beginning, but quickly learned that anything worthwhile doesn't include shortcuts. So even with the <a href="http://www.quiltinaday.com/default.asp">Quilt in a Day</a>, it takes me several so that I am sure to do it right. This particular quilt requires 4 different square patterns and I want the quilt to be large enough to cover my king-sized bed when it's finished.<br /><br />Recently, I have been itching to make a quilt. I had this project in a drawer that I started about 5 years ago, but didn't get past the first stages. I was thrilled to find out that through both of our recent moves, the quilt pieces still lay in a bag in a bottom drawer of an old dresser. It was like finding an old friend. <br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TGyXqsPrcMI/AAAAAAAABKs/Imabwz77UKs/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506943204054495426" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TGyXqsPrcMI/AAAAAAAABKs/Imabwz77UKs/s320/035.JPG" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>So I picked up right where I left off. The beautiful part of it is that DD11 sits in the room with me and knits while I quilt. She often reminds me of the book by Beverly Lewis "Just Like Mama" and I love it, savor it, and pray these days last a long, long time.</div><div> </div><div>I also believe this is what Charlotte Mason meant by "masterly inactivity". It's a time during the day that is not structured, but something worthwhile is going on.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TGyXq0zFATI/AAAAAAAABK0/ehMrJ13rntU/s1600/069.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506943206350455090" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TGyXq0zFATI/AAAAAAAABK0/ehMrJ13rntU/s320/069.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Once all the squares are done and put together, I will begin hand quilting the entire project. Yes, it takes a long time, but there is something theraputic about stitching each quilt. It's a time to reflect and a time to pray and a time to be still and know He is God. All the while, we are making useful things - handicrafts - that will become a part of our home.<br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TGyXrZFU_PI/AAAAAAAABK8/OtX8rrgoiI0/s1600/064.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506943216090676466" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TGyXrZFU_PI/AAAAAAAABK8/OtX8rrgoiI0/s320/064.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-26773353328126264722010-08-14T08:49:00.001-04:002010-08-14T18:42:26.840-04:00What Grade Are You In?My youngest is now 6. I guess that means he's not in Kindergarten any more. He's had it in his mind that he has been in 1st grade since about April.<br /><br /><br />My oldest is 13. I guess that means she's entering 8th grade.<br /><br /><br />My "middlest" is nearly 12 and that would mean she is entering 7th grade.<br /><br /><br />All along, grade level really meant nothing to me. Once the children reached a certain age, people began to ask them, "What grade are you in?" At first the girls would give me a bewildered look. I would then have to calculate on my fingers - "Okay, subtract 5 from their age and that gives you grade level. 7 minus 5 is 2. So I guess that means you're in Second Grade."<br /><br /><br />Does it matter? Really? When registering for VBS (or any of the other multitude of activities we register for), why can't they go by age? <br /><br /><br />At various times we would have a scenario like this - 9 year old in Math-U-See Gamma level (What's Gamma????? It's the third book so is that 3rd grade?????), while completing Language Lessons for Intermediate grades, while reading Ivanhoe (unabridged). So just looking at curriculum, what grade would that be?<br /><br /><br />Again I ask, does it matter? Really?<br /><br /><br /><br />High school is a whole different ball game and the grade level needs to be more defined. At that point we are creating transcripts that will be necessary for post-secondary education and/or employment*. So that starts at about age 14. In the meantime, according to Pa homeschool law, grade level is determined by the home educating parent. If it doesn't matter to the parent, then what? <br /><br />*I am not saying here that the law requires transcripts. However, I do highly recommend creating transcripts for your child during the high school years for reasons I mentioned in this post.Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-20011292153091776412010-07-27T07:57:00.006-04:002010-07-28T04:44:43.405-04:00Even Though Life is Happening, Learning ContinuesMy daughters' standardized test scores came in the mail yesterday.<br /><br /><br />Let me back up for a moment here.<br /><br />The last 12 months have not been the greatest. Due to many things going on in our personal lives, "school" was shoved to the side many times. About 2 months ago, I began fretting over it and was talking to a dear friend. She set me straight by asking me, "What would you tell another mom who called you and was fretting like this?" She stopped me in my tracks. I do evaluations for homeschoolers in Pennsylvania and I see many parents who are worried to death. Typically, I encourage them because I know that not all learning comes from textbooks. So my response to her was "I'd tell them to relax." She then informed me that I need to take my own advice and she was right.<br /><br />The scores came today and it looks like we didn't miss a beat. Both of my girls scored right where they should. I say this because their scores are consistent with previous years' scores. So now DD13 is definitley ready for 8th grade and DD11 is ready for 7th. I didn't test DS6 yet because I truly don't think it's necessary.<br /><br />So all of this to say that I think a Charlotte Mason Edcuation works! On the days we don't do "school", we are still learning and thinking.Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-32310826275556273012010-07-20T09:47:00.003-04:002010-07-20T09:53:25.519-04:00Geography ClubOur first Geography Club meeting for the year will be this Friday. Geography Club meetings will be 3 hours long with a short break in the middle. Each month we will have a different focus based on the 5 themes of geography and activities are found through the<a href="http://www.ncge.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3278"> National Council for Geographic Education</a>.<br /><br />This Friday we will be looking at state quarters and license plates. Once we take a close look at them, we will then divide the quarters into regions to see if there are any similiarities. During the meeting we will also do a scrap map activity and at this moment I am trying to decide if I should have the kids identify the 50 states on a blank outline map. We did that two years ago. Each meeting started with that and each month they could see how many more they knew. It was an activity that was well recieved which is why I'm considering it again this year.Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-59121439977416204342010-06-14T08:47:00.005-04:002010-06-14T09:11:02.651-04:00And Now We Are 6Happy Birthday<br /><div><br /><div>January 19, 2004 <div><div><img style="WIDTH: 190px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482611832890453154" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYmafTJ7KI/AAAAAAAABJA/MXy2f8GJJBc/s320/008.JPG" /><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYmag-kDpI/AAAAAAAABJI/6cVPsv5t0Jo/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482611833340956306" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYmag-kDpI/AAAAAAAABJI/6cVPsv5t0Jo/s320/006.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><br />Fall 2004<br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYmbBxzj9I/AAAAAAAABJQ/B5e8bk3IhQY/s1600/P1010011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482611842145816530" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYmbBxzj9I/AAAAAAAABJQ/B5e8bk3IhQY/s320/P1010011.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br /> </div><div>May 2005</div><div><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482614701727935794" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYpBejT7TI/AAAAAAAABJw/2ifvV77EW8g/s320/July+6,+2005+Raymond.JPG" /><br /><br /></div><div>Christmas 2006<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYmbTshcaI/AAAAAAAABJY/98JTkNBCLN0/s1600/100_1819.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482611846955495842" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYmbTshcaI/AAAAAAAABJY/98JTkNBCLN0/s320/100_1819.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br /> </div><div>Christmas Program 2007<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYpA_5O0hI/AAAAAAAABJo/wlcOg-QpN8I/s1600/100_3556.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482614693498376722" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYpA_5O0hI/AAAAAAAABJo/wlcOg-QpN8I/s320/100_3556.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br /> </div><div>May 2009 with his best buddy<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYpB0aKdkI/AAAAAAAABJ4/gWQaS6837Xk/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482614707595146818" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYpB0aKdkI/AAAAAAAABJ4/gWQaS6837Xk/s320/020.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br />First summer on the dirt bike!!! He has waited FOREVER for this moment!</div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYpCYLkA0I/AAAAAAAABKA/REpjMqqjbX0/s1600/205.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482614717197583170" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYpCYLkA0I/AAAAAAAABKA/REpjMqqjbX0/s320/205.JPG" /></a></div><div><br />June 2010<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYmb8wE6OI/AAAAAAAABJg/G6UIvt8JJ1U/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482611857976256738" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBYmb8wE6OI/AAAAAAAABJg/G6UIvt8JJ1U/s320/003.JPG" /></a></div><div>Yesterday, he made his birthday cake. It was from a mix, but he cracked the eggs and put in the water and oil. After it cooled, he iced it as well. Today, he will place a Transformer on top of it with the candles. He is such a big boy.<br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-13491429901529651512010-06-13T15:26:00.005-04:002010-06-13T15:54:14.609-04:00Another Way We Are Saving Money<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBUycZaOyGI/AAAAAAAABIg/tt8LFVrfkwI/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482343584832079970" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBUycZaOyGI/AAAAAAAABIg/tt8LFVrfkwI/s320/020.JPG" /></a><br />This is a neat little gadget that my mother gave my husband for Christmas. Since he is the only coffee drinker in our house, it was the perfect gift. Until the K Cups ran out. We went to purchase more and cannot find them for less than 50 cents per cup. That seems expensive to us since you can brew a whole pot of coffee for less than that. So for a while we used the coffee "tea bags" with it. That worked, but was still a little pricey.<br /><br />When we are out and about, we will often stop to get a cold drink at some point. It became cost prohibitive when our financial crisis hit at the end of last summer. So we stopped doing that as much. We still did it though (every time we were looking over our shoulders for Dave Ramsey - eek!).<br /><br />Earlier this spring I found a little cooler at a church rummage sale. Perfect! I started taking drinks with us when we went out. Usually bottled water, but sometimes tea or other drinks that I purchased at the store. It was cheaper than going to a convenience store, but still not cheap.<br /><br />Then one day, I was looking at my husband's Christmas gift and I thought I'd try to brew iced tea with it. At that moment, I started a new trend in our house.<br /><br />Now I am brewing the tea we take with us when we go out and about. There are many benefits here. #1 being cost. A tea bag costs pennies compared to the $1.50 to $2 we were spending on drinks at convenience stores.<br />The side benefit is that I know what is in that bottle now. I don't use corn syrup or artificial sweetners or chemical preservatives. I use tea and honey or raw sugar and sometimes I squeeze lemon juice in. Labeling the bottles is very important. When I brew fruit teas for the kids, it can sometimes be a hard sell if the children don't know what's in the bottle.<br /><br />I haven't calculated costs, yet. However, I know this is just better.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBUycmfsLyI/AAAAAAAABIo/FdL62RVQMiw/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482343588344639266" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBUycmfsLyI/AAAAAAAABIo/FdL62RVQMiw/s320/015.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>I brew the tea right in the bottle with the water from our Kreurig machine. When it's finished brewing, I add water to fill the bottle and stick it in the refrigerator. Hubby likes having the individual servings in bottles to grab and go.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBUyeYuEzFI/AAAAAAAABIw/KanMxqit-wc/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482343619006614610" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBUyeYuEzFI/AAAAAAAABIw/KanMxqit-wc/s320/017.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBUyfiXMmvI/AAAAAAAABI4/I53SJJXyNzU/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482343638774881010" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBUyfiXMmvI/AAAAAAAABI4/I53SJJXyNzU/s320/018.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-36593922456013779512010-06-13T15:22:00.003-04:002010-06-13T15:26:07.933-04:00Laundry Soap update<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBUwOyyZwMI/AAAAAAAABIY/fkO80DxR1jA/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482341152102924482" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TBUwOyyZwMI/AAAAAAAABIY/fkO80DxR1jA/s320/001.JPG" /></a> </div><div align="center">The <a href="http://cminamerica.blogspot.com/2010/05/laundry-soap.html">laundry soap</a> that Lucy and I made is working out great. Our clothes are clean and we are paying a fraction of the cost of commercial laundry detergent. I'm thrilled with it.<br /></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4317623162748828460.post-17218438501875297922010-05-24T07:39:00.001-04:002010-05-30T08:16:37.963-04:00Our Property<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TAJPsTFdbkI/AAAAAAAABHA/GqkrrErJQTc/s1600/200.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477027719291956802" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TAJPsTFdbkI/AAAAAAAABHA/GqkrrErJQTc/s320/200.JPG" /></a> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Through the unfolding of events over the last year, we have found ourselves on a piece of property that is about 12 acres and wooded. Some think we are doing well because we got this big house on this big piece of property when in reality we are renting. The rent is less than half of what our mortgage was in our previous house. Despite several efforts over the last 4 or 5 years, our house didn't sell. It has come to a point where the house is in foreclosure. I won't go into great detail here, but let's just say we are feeling the economic crunch with many others right now. I publish these things so the truth will be out there.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center">Nonetheless, we are making the best of our current situation. Through the woods we have cut a walking trail. The trail is rough right now, but walkable. It has been a wonderful bonding experience for our family to have a project such as this in front of us. The nice part is that it really didn't cost us much money. My husband had to purchase a new chainsaw blade. Other than that, we have a lot of "sweat equity" in it.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TAJPsIP5TLI/AAAAAAAABG4/C_YZ7F_EI9s/s1600/196.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477027716382936242" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TAJPsIP5TLI/AAAAAAAABG4/C_YZ7F_EI9s/s320/196.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">We are estimating that the trail is about 1/3 to 1/2 mile long. It starts near the house and ends near the house. Every day we find footprints left by the wildlife that wanders the woods at night. Talk about an excellent opportunity for nature study!<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TAJPr0jxWDI/AAAAAAAABGw/zJmiw3JkAnw/s1600/195.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477027711097591858" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FYGrriA62kI/TAJPr0jxWDI/AAAAAAAABGw/zJmiw3JkAnw/s320/195.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><br />We are looking forward to many, many adventures on a trail that we can call our own.<br /><br /></div>Kaylurayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864204076523929724noreply@blogger.com4